Programs & Campaigns

Since the formation of the Department in early 2023, we have created and delivered numerous programs, campaigns, and presentations that aim to create more inclusive school sites where our students can reach their greatest potential. Some of the accomplishments of the department are listed below:

Responding to Culturally Unhealthy behavior at School Sites

The department delivers trainings and presentations that address Culturally Unhealthy behavior at school sites to both staff and students, presentations include the impact of the use of harmful words, stereotyping, bias, and other topics relating to unhealthy values and behaviors. In the 2023-2024 school year, the department presented at 12 elementary schools and 2 middle schools and met with individual students and groups to work on overcoming unhealthy behavior. During the 2024-2025 school year, requests for the department managers to present at school sites increased to over 72 presentations at 24 school sites, leading to more inclusive environments for students to learn and grow.  

 

Orange Shirt Day 

Each year, the Department commemorates “Orange Shirt Day” each year to raise awareness of the residential school system that impacted the lives of Native Americans throughout the country. Since 2022, Orange Shirt Day has been commemorated annually by staff in the district offices and at school sites across the district through the provision of curriculum and activities that highlight the need for our students to understand the history of our educational system and country. 

 

Equity Response Hotline

In 2023, the department officially launched the Equity Response Hotline across our district. The hotline allows staff to report incidents considered culturally destructive, culturally incapacitating, and culturally blind. Once reported, the department works with staff to resolve the incident and further the principles of inclusion and diversity at our school sites and in our departments. In 2023-2024, the department responded to over 23 incidents; and in 2024-2025 there were 28 incidents of culturally unhealthy behavior. Our response work ensures staff and students are able to resolve unhealthy behaviors that affect student learning, teaching practices, and school site social cohesion.

 

"La Voz" Staff Affinity Group

Open to all Fresno Unified staff, "La Voz" is an affinity group that celebrates the Hispanic and Latinx identity of our students and staff. Through celebration and collaboration, "La Voz" aims to build staff connections and create networking opportunities through social events and professional learning engagements. "La Voz" was launched in the 2024-2025 school year with a grand opening at Arte Américas in Fresno.

 

DEI Art Competition

Since 2023, the DEI Department organizes a yearly art competition for our students. In 2022-2023, the competition was open to our Middle School Students with the theme, "Diversity". The Department received over 43 entries and worked in collaboration with staff across other departments to vote and award 20 students a backpack filled with books and stationery, and one grand prize winner a pair of Apple Air Pods.

The theme for 2023-2024 was “Advancing Leaders through Stories of Determination" and was intended to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The district received 95 entries, all who received a certificate. Forty winners between TK, Kinder, 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. All 40 winners received 2 AAPI cultural books, an art kit and a backpack/tote bag.  Grades 4th, 5th, and 6th each had a "top winner" who received an Amazon Fire Tablet and a Bluetooth speaker. 21 backpacks and 19 tote bags, 90 books, 40 art kits, 2 amazon tablets and 1 Bluetooth speaker were given away for the art competition. 

The 2025 theme, “Celebrating US in FUSD,” aimed to reflect the beauty of our diverse district and encouraged students to highlight how our shared humanity, diversity, and empathy unite us in building a stronger, more inclusive community. Middle school students across the district submitted more than 60 works of art, including drawings, paintings, and artist statements that beautifully reflected the African philosophy of Ubuntu—which emphasizes interconnectedness and the belief that "I am because we are." Top-rated artists received prizes such as media streaming devices, art kits, inclusivity-themed books, and custom tote bags. Every participant also received a DEI participation certificate.